Naming the Away IP

[smokegrub]

In the Admin Console Startup screen I have been able to add a name for the local IP of the ISY. e.g., ISY-"Name".

Is it possible to somehow do the same with the away IP?I have two ISYs and that would make it easier to ID which URL to use.

[Michel Kohanim]

Hi smokegrub,

 

The name comes from the top most node below the Network (in the Admin Console device tree). The default is ISY. So, you can definitely rename that node, remove that entry from ISY Finder, and then add it back in. ISY Finder will take the new name and includes it in the list.

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[smokegrub]

Unless I am missing something, that works for the local IP address but not when the away IP address is displayed. 

[apostolakisl]

I use a dynamic dns server.  Assuming your router has nat loopback, you can use the external dns name both from within and from outside the LAN.  I use no-ip as my dynamic dns provider.  It is like $20 or something for a couple years for a whole bunch of DNS names.  I have a name for my home and a name for my office and I donated a bunch of other names to friends and family.  For example it could be (but isn't)

 

home.no-ip.biz

office.no-ip.biz

 

I then use those in my ISY finder and it is quite obvious which is which.

 

no-ip.com has a bunch of naming choices, it doesn't only have .no-ip.biz, there are like 50 choices.  You can also pay extra to have it track a proprietary domain name that you own.

 

For no-ip to track your IP address, should it ever change, you need something on your network that will update it.  I have some foscam cameras at both home and work that have no-ip as a built-in service.  Some brands of routers have no-ip as a built-in service.  My Elk allows you to manually configure it to any service.  If all else fails, you can run a background updater on a pc in your network.  As it turns out, however, most of your ISP's never change your IP unless you replace your modem or they do some service on their network.  If you don't have an automatic updater on your network, you'll have to manually set your IP using no-ip website anytime your IP address changes.  What I have said here applies to pretty much all the dynamic dns providers.

 

Enter

 

https://yourdynamicdnsname  into ISY finder and then it will show it just like that every time you run it in the future.

 

be sure to have port forwarding on for the secure port.

[smokegrub]

I use a dynamic dns server.  Assuming your router has nat loopback, you can use the external dns name both from within and from outside the LAN.  I use no-ip as my dynamic dns provider.  It is like $20 or something for a couple years for a whole bunch of DNS names.  I have a name for my home and a name for my office and I donated a bunch of other names to friends and family.  For example it could be (but isn't)

 

home.no-ip.biz

office.no-ip.biz

 

I then use those in my ISY finder and it is quite obvious which is which.

 

no-ip.com has a bunch of naming choices, it doesn't only have .no-ip.biz, there are like 50 choices.  You can also pay extra to have it track a proprietary domain name that you own.

 

For no-ip to track your IP address, should it ever change, you need something on your network that will update it.  I have some foscam cameras at both home and work that have no-ip as a built-in service.  Some brands of routers have no-ip as a built-in service.  My Elk allows you to manually configure it to any service.  If all else fails, you can run a background updater on a pc in your network.  As it turns out, however, most of your ISP's never change your IP unless you replace your modem or they do some service on their network.  If you don't have an automatic updater on your network, you'll have to manually set your IP using no-ip website anytime your IP address changes.  What I have said here applies to pretty much all the dynamic dns providers.

 

Enter

 

https://yourdynamicdnsname  into ISY finder and then it will show it just like that every time you run it in the future.

 

be sure to have port forwarding on for the secure port.

 

Thanks for your thoughtful reply. I have only had to update with a changed IP once in perhaps 5 years with one of two ISPs. I have briefly looked into DNS but have decided to leave things as they are. My weakest skill involves networking. Each and every time I have to set up something such as an Insteon camera and notification by email of motion I have to basically reverse engineer what I have done with a similar device. From my perspective this is where Apple, Smarthome and many others have failed to meet the needs of their customers in a simple plug and play fashion.

 

Port forwarding is a great example of a name that totally fails to describe what you are doing and why. I suspect I need a networking for dummies resource but I doubt that would be adequate for me.  :  )

 

My thanks to you and others at this forum who have so generously helped me though these quagmires.

[apostolakisl]

Without setting your router to port forward, you can't access your ISY, or anything for that matter from outside your network.  That is, unless you instead subscribe to a service like ISY portal that keeps the port open for you.

 

But I am confused do you have two ISY's on the same network?  You must have port forwarding setup already if you are accessing one ISY from a network other than the one you are currently located in.

[smokegrub]

The two ISYs are located in homes separated by more than 300 miles. Both have port forwarding enabled and both are set up correctly. It just takes me an inordinate amount of time and research to do those networking tasks. Sadly, I forget what I did shortly thereafter. I have started writing down what I did in the hope that if I have to do it again it will be less painful!

[larryllix]

So you are manually switching the ISY IP addresses in your apps, to access each ISY and it's a PITA?

[smokegrub]

When I am "away" from one of the locations and access the ISY I use its away IP. That means I have two such IPs in the Console. I have been unable to name them for identification purposes as I have the local IP. I am simply trying to find out if that is easily possible as it is for the local IPs.

[larryllix]

hmmmmm...

My ISYfinder comes up with two IP addresses ( that I installed) and I have to double click one, to connect to ISY with the path I choose, every time.

The local IP address and the remote IP address are easy to identify by their numbers and could identify two different ISYs also.

 

There is no ISY friendly name used, or seen, there.

 

 

Using MobiLinc Pro (android) the switching is done automatically dependent on whether your WiFi is enabled or not. Two different ISYs could be made to respond to LAN and WAN access methods.

 

I guess I don't understand where you ever see a friendly name for your local ISY.

[smokegrub]

By control clicking on ISY in the device tree I can rename the ISY to ISY-Name. That ISY-Name will then appear in the Admin Console along with the local IP. I would like to do the same with the away IP but have been unable to identify a way to do so.

[Michel Kohanim]

Hi smokegrub,

 

Sincere apologies for not comprehending your question. I think I now understand and please correct me if I am wrong:

In ISY Finder, for each ISY, you have two entries:

1. Local IP address

2. Away IP address

 

Since both point to the same ISY, they are named the same and thus you would not know which one is local and which one is remote (away). Is this correct? If so, can you please let me know whether or not you actually added an entry for your local ISYs (when you are local) or is that that the ISY Finder automatically finds them when you are local?

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[smokegrub]

I entered a name for the local IPs and they are readily identifiable in the ISY finder. However, the away IPs have no apparent means of similarly identifying them. I have to use my recollection of the away IPs. Not a serious problem, but it would make things easier if the away IP could be made to appear in the ISY Finder as ISY Name-Away IP

[Michel Kohanim]

Hi smokegrub,

 

What I am trying to say is this:

If you do NOT use the Add button to add your local ISYs, then ISY Finder will try to find them by searching the network. This means that the top entries are ALWAYS those that ISY finds automatically on the network. This also means that when you are NOT local, those will NOT show up (only the remote ones that you created using the Add button show up).

 

Does this make sense?

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[larryllix]

By control clicking on ISY in the device tree I can rename the ISY to ISY-Name. That ISY-Name will then appear in the Admin Console along with the local IP. I would like to do the same with the away IP but have been unable to identify a way to do so.

The name shown in your device tree is for your Insteon network, not Ethernet network. Unrelated.

[smokegrub]

Thanks, all. That answered my question. Can't be done. No problem

[DennisC]

Thanks, all. That answered my question. Can't be done. No problem

HI Smokegrub,

 

I understand what you are asking and what your difficulty is.

 

I also have two ISY's installed at two different locations. My difference is I have DDNS name setup for both locations. Besides automatically adjusting if my IP address changes, it also makes knowing which ISY I am connecting to (away mode) easy, since my DDNS naming convention includes the location.

 

Since you already have port forwarding set up for your external IP addresses, you would not need to make changes to your router if you would like to add a free DDNS account. You could attempt to set this up, without impacting your existing ISY connectivity.

 

I am using No-IP.biz for a free account. I would suggest you try and set up a free account for each site (it is very easy). Once set up, you could try and enter the DDNS name in the ISY finder. You will know right away if you have entered it correctly and it will not impact your current external IP address entry (in the event it doesn't work correctly).

 

If you require additional assistance, we can help walk you thru the setup.

 

Good luck.

 

Regards,

 

Dennis

[larryllix]

What do you have updating the DDNS service?

[DennisC]

What do you have updating the DDNS service?

I'm using my Elk system. In Smokegrub's case, he is not worried about his external IP address changing. His issue is he can't distinguish between each sites external IP address. If necessary, he could manually update the DDNS service occasionally.

 

Dennis

[smokegrub]

Thanks, Dennis and all.